The Edinburgh Review; Or Critical Journal Volume 138-139 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ...attacked they would have as allies the Protectorate and the British Government, and that he would assist them in every possible way--in money, men, and munitions of war. Lord Granville instantly disavowed Mr. Simpson, and repudiated this declaration, ordering it to be recalled, and adding: --'Those allies must be made to understand that, although the British Government, so long as they conduct themselves satisfactorily, may be ready to give them some assistance in the way of arms, ammunition, and money, yet the van they engage in are their wara, and not the van of this country; that they must rely on themselves for success in those wars, and that the British Government is unable to make itself responsible for their defence in case they should prove unable to defend themselves.' (Dispatch of May 17, 1869.) This, then, was the declared and deliberate policy of the British Government at the time the Select Committee of the House of Commons sat in 1865, and four years later. Since that time, the onlv change which has taken place is by the cession of the Dutch forts in February 1872; but we are unable to discover that this circumstance has modified the relations in which we stand to any of the native tribes, protected or otherwise, No doubt that in the Select Committee which investigated the subject in 1865, there were many members of Parliament who became thoroughly aware of the anomalous character of the Protectorate, and the embarrassing extent of our engagements. The evidence demonstrated beyond all doubt that the commercial benefits arising from the occupation of the Gold Coast were extremely small, for in 1863 the imports had fallen to 76,955/., and the exports to 53,704?.; that the stations did not even afford a single port or harbour;...